Martha Coakley on Civil Rights

Repeal DOMA: full rights for same-sex couples

Repealing DOMA: Martha has stood as a national leader in defending same-sex couples and their right to marriage. Martha is the only Attorney General in the country to file a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the discriminatory
Defense of Marriage Act, which unfairly excludes married same-sex couples and their families from critically important rights and protections. In Washington, Martha Coakley will continue this fight and will lead the effort to repeal DOMA.

End discrimination on basis of race, gender, and disability

Martha Coakley believes our democracy is based on the promise that government must work for everyone.

Despite tremendous progress, there is still much to be done to end discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, gender, religion, sexual
orientation, age and disability.

Martha believes that our differences and diversity make us stronger -- and that our government must ensure equal access to opportunities and fair treatment for all.

As Attorney General,
Martha investigated and pursued cases related to housing discrimination, disability rights, fair lending, public accommodation, equal marriage, health care disparities, and hate crimes based on race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation.
Throughout her career, Martha has also been a forceful advocate for legislation designed to protect and advance civil rights, and has successfully worked with the Legislature to craft and pass laws that promote equal rights and opportunity.

More women should take active role in policy discussions

Attorney General Martha Coakley delivered the keynote address at the Women2Women International Leadership Conference. Coakley discussed the challenges she faced in pursuing a career as a lawyer, prosecutor, and now elected official. "It's important that
women take an active role in the policy discussions and decision making that shape our society and the world," Coakley said, encouraging "further participation in your local communities and further developing your leadership skills."

Penalize racially-motivated crime as civil rights violation

Attorney General Martha Coakley's Office obtained a civil rights injunction against two men charged with a racially motivated attack in Worcester. The order prohibits the alleged perpetrators from violating the civil rights of the victims and all others
in the Commonwealth based upon their actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity or national origin. A violation of the injunction is a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and two and a half years in a House of Correction, or if bodily
injury results from such violation, a $10,000 fine and up to 10 years in State Prison.

"Unprovoked, racially motivated attacks like this cannot and will not be tolerated in Massachusetts. These incidents not only affect the victims,
but the community as a whole," said Coakley. "Fortunately, the community responded to this incident with a swift and strong message reaffirming its collaborative commitment to securing the civil rights of all its citizens."

Anti-gay hate crimes devastate victims & communities

Attorney General Coakley's Office has obtained a Final Judgment imposing a five year civil rights injunction against a Quincy man accused of committing a bias-motivated attack on a Quincy resident because of his perceived sexual orientation. The Final
Judgment prohibits the alleged perpetrator from threatening the victim on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation. A violation of the injunction is a criminal offense punishable by a fine of $5,000 & 30 months in a house of correction, or if
bodily injury results from such violation, a $10,000 fine and up to ten years in state prison.

"We know the uniquely devastating impact that hate crimes have on victims and communities," said Coakley. "Our office is committed to enforcing the state's
civil rights laws to protect residents and visitors to the Commonwealth."

The Attorney General's lawsuit stems from an attack on a gay man in Feb. 2008, where the alleged perpetrator engaged in a physical assault while using anti-gay slurs.

Federal DOMA violates rights of same-sex couples

Coakley filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act ("DOMA"). The law, which defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman, unfairly excludes more than 16,000 Massachusetts married same-sex couples
and their families from critically important rights and protections based on marital status. The complaint alleges that DOMA violates the US Constitution by interfering with the Commonwealth's sovereign authority to define and regulate the marital status
of its residents. The complaint also alleges that Congress does not have a valid reason for requiring Massachusetts to treat married same-sex couples differently from all other married couples.

Coakley said, "DOMA affects residents of
Massachusetts in very real and very negative ways by depriving access to important economic safety nets and other protections that couples count on when they marry and that help them to take care of one another and their families."